When DI Hardy – played by David Tennant – made a cup of tea in the microwave during an episode of Broadchurch in March – much of Britain was horrified.

But it seems that the highly unorthodox method of making a cuppa could result in the best and healthiest brew.

Research by an Australian scientist has found that using a microwave to make tea activated 80% of the caffeine – theanine and antioxidant compounds – properties that are linked to lower cardiovascular disease and cholesterol – hypertension and diabetes.

Crucially – the unusual method also generated the best taste – he found.

‘Microwaving is one of the advanced technologies to get more bioactive compounds from the products’ Dr Quan Vuong told the ABC.